Story and photos by Sgt. Eric Glassey

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

COLORADO SPRINGS — Fort Carson Soldiers taught students about the importance of Veterans Day during a visit to Helen Keller Elementary School Nov. 19, 2014.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, support the Colorado Springs school each Wednesday as part of the Adopt-A-School Program that sends troops to area schools to mentor students and assist teachers. The Veterans Day tribute was postponed from Nov. 12 due to severe weather.

“This is the first time we have ever done (a Veterans Day event) at the school,” said Maj. Ryan Levesque, commander, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. “We planned Veterans Day so that the children can learn what a veteran is and what it means (to serve the nation) and some reverent ways to celebrate (the holiday).”

Levesque asked students an array of questions challenging their knowledge of veterans and the armed forces.

“Depending on the age level of the groups, we tailor the quizzes and the games,” Levesque said. “Generally, we want them to leave with an understanding of Veterans Day and … the armed services — what people mean when they say that and a general description of what each service does.

“Plus, I brought along a little music from each service’s song (to) see if they can guess which service it is,” Levesque said, “so they will be active and engaged in the event.”

The impact of the Veterans Day event built on the efforts the Soldiers make every week to improve the lives and learning of the schoolchildren.

“The impact is heavy,” said Sgt. Lee Brown, field artillery automated tactical data system NCO, 3rd Bn., 16 FA Reg. “From the first day that we’ve been doing this until now, you can see a major difference in the children’s attitudes with us mentoring them, and now they are in the routine of having us here.”

The help Soldiers offer varies from encouragement to educational instruction.

“If they need help with anything, they need a ‘good job,’ or if they are having a meltdown, we’re there to help them,” Brown said. “The one thing that I make sure is that the students have a one-on-one connection with me and I help them get what they need done — be it fractions, a history program or just letting them know about the military itself.”

Students had a hands-on experience with the Soldiers and their military equipment.

“My favorite part was seeing the joy on their faces when they see a real Humvee,” Levesque said. “For most of them it is the first time they have touched a real Humvee. They have had a lot of interaction with the mentors over the past three months, but a lot of them finally got to touch a real armored Humvee, put on the (helmet), the body armor, and pretend they are a Soldier for a few minutes.”